Best Snorkeling Gear for Kids (2025): Don’t forget to bring these items!
We absolutely love snorkeling with kids, and we cannot wait for our next vacation, where our daughter will be trying it for the first time!
Snorkeling is a fun activity across all ages, but for children, appreciating the wonders of life underwater will leave much more of a positive and memorable impact—especially if it’s their first time! Bring the right snorkeling gear for kids, though, and make sure they’re happy, safe, and hot while in the water.
We want to share this complete guide to answer any questions you might have regarding snorkeling for kids. With this information, you can find out the best snorkeling gear for kids and make the most out of your trip to Cuba, the Bahamas, the Great Barrier Reef, or other aquatic hotspots!
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The Best Snorkeling Gear for Kids
Best full face snorkel mask kids: Orsen Full Face
Best snorkel set for beginners: Mares Sea Pals
Best cheap snorkeling set: Cressi Rocks Junior
Best kids gear for swim snorkel: REALON Kids / US Divers
The most lightweight mask: Prodive Premium
Best toddler snorkeling gear: Stearns Life Jacket
Comparison Chart
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
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Orsen Full Face
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Triboard Subea EasyBreath
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Prodive Premium
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Mares Sea Pals
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Cressi Rocks Junior
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US Divers Dorado II
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Stearns Life Jacket
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Realon Kids Wetsuit UPF50+
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Yober Baby Boys Kids Swimsuit
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![Dry-Top Snorkel (100% No Water Leak) & Diving Mask Set (Impact-Resistant Tempered Glass Lense) Watertight & Anti-Fog Lens [Crystal Clear for Best Vision] Easy Adjustable Strap & Waterproof Carry Case.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41DjKl2MQsL._SL500_.jpg)
What snorkeling gear for kids do you need?
To help you save time, we’ve compiled a list of the best kids’ snorkel sets and gear we could find! These have been carefully selected based on snorkeling gear for kids reviews and have been outlined in detail based on what you might find suitable for your needs and what features make them the best.
Snorkel masks and tubes
In kids’ snorkeling gear, a snorkel mask is the glass panel, typically with a silicon skirt (the firm material around the lens), worn over the eyes like a lens, enabling the user to see underwater without water entering or “leaking” inside it.
It is preferred over swimming goggles because they can be worn securely over the eyes and nose. A good snorkel mask is anti-leak and anti-fog to allow consistently unimpeded vision.
It can either have a single lens, just one glass panel, or double or twin lenses with two separate glass panels (one for each eye). The former features a 180° or panoramic view, which means a larger field of vision, while the latter, with its longer nose pocket, may be more comfortable to wear.
The snorkel tube, or simply snorkel, is a j-shaped tube with a mouthpiece that the user inserts into their mouth to breathe through.
The best snorkel for kids typically features a “dry top” design and a purge valve. A dry top snorkel prevents water from getting in the barrel if a wave splashes over the top of the snorkel or if the wearer accidentally goes too deep and submerges the entire tube. On the other hand, the purge valve allows easy drainage of residual water that enters the mouthpiece.
The standard masks come with a separate snorkel tube, but some are an all-in-one system. Kids can breathe more normally with a full-face snorkel mask as they don’t have to bite down on a mouthpiece.
The first two of the three products featured below are snorkeling gear full face masks with snorkeling gear bags. Learn more about its pros and cons in the separate snorkeling gear reviews.
#1 ORSEN FULL FACE
It’s a miracle that the Orsen Full Face is still easy to use with its multitude of features.
Just to mention a few, it has a strap and quick-release system, a foldable tube, and a detachable camera mount for when your kids want to take videos or photographs underwater!
Anti-fog technology prevents condensation on the lens, and it’s also anti-leak as the silicon skirt is flexible enough to be a good fit (we definitely don’t want our kids swallowing saltwater). The mouthpiece is non-toxic, and since the material is relatively elastic, kids feel less discomfort when wearing the mask.
Some full-face snorkel masks are criticized for possibly excessive CO₂ build-up. That said, fret not as this kids’ full face snorkel mask has a CO₂ quick discharge system. More oxygen and fewer CO₂ are accumulated with its specialized breathing system, mitigating breathing hazards.
Don’t forget that the mask’s panoramic view features a wide field of vision! As long as you get the right size, this snorkel mask is highly recommendable as a snorkeling gear for beginners for its convenience and breathable design.
The Orsen Full Face is undoubtedly a worthy contender if you’re looking for the best full-face snorkel mask for kids
#2 TRIBOARD EASYBREATH
The Triboard Subea EasyBreath is a premium full-face snorkel mask for children made with non-toxic, hypoallergenic material in line with international safety and CE standards.
The mask is the winner of the Oxylane Innovation Award, which is highly respected in the field of sports technology and innovation!
The kid’s full face snorkel is single-lens, anti-fog, leakproof, and comes with a secure lock and replacement ring, specializing in both safety and performance. It has a dry snorkel for kids and even has a camera mount as an addition. Breathing is made more convenient given that it fits the entire face and its design prioritizes utility.
It’s not surprising if you find the Triboard Easybreath to be one of the most well-made, if not the best snorkel mask for kids! In terms of durability, the mask can last years with proper care and maintenance.
#3 PRODIVE PREMIUM
The Prodive Premium is a kids’ snorkel and mask that comes with an additional waterproof snorkeling gear bag—a real bargain if you ask most users!
With the kids snorkel gear fully adjustable straps, it’s one-size-fits-all and easily adapts to growing children. To be clear, however, it might be too big for very young children or those with slimmer faces, so it’s better to always check the fit of any snorkeling mask for kids before anything else.
Impact-resistant, anti-fog, leak-free, and adjustable, the children’s snorkel also features breath-easy technology and a dry-top design.
The mouthpiece is made of food-grade material, and it’s designed to prevent excessive strain on your kid’s jaw from biting down on it for too long.
A one-way purge valve is installed to prevent water from spilling through the mouthpiece.
Lastly, the Prodive Premium is quick-release, which means you can conveniently detach the kid’s snorkel and mask without difficulty.
The best mask and snorkel for kids might just be the Prodive Premium! Of course, it’s up to you to decide, but you likely won’t regret trying it as the snorkeling gear review doesn’t disappoint.
Snorkel sets
Apart from a kids’ snorkel mask and the snorkel itself, kids snorkel sets also include flippers/fins, a storage bag, or both.
As a snorkeling gear kids set comes in one package, you can get significant savings and spend less time and effort finding the pieces separately! Many snorkeling sets for kids also have cool or cute designs, just like those you’ll see below. Alternatively, in The Best Snorkel Sets for Kids, more options and detailed reviews can be found.
#1 MARES SEA PALS
If we’re talking about cuteness (with equal importance for utility), the Mares Sea Pals snorkel gear kids’ set is your best bet!
The Mares snorkeling gear includes a carry bag, mask, children’s snorkel, and flippers. Various sea pal designs with diverse colors are available.
The ultra-clear tempered glass lens promises clarity and durability, but you also can’t forget about the adjustability of the mask, kids’ snorkel, and fins.
An easy-exhale system enables easy residual water clearance, and the mouthpiece has a comfortable fit for most. Splash guards are included to protect against water from entering the barrel due to splashes, waves, or submersion. The quick-release system of the Mares kids snorkel set helps the user easily connect and disconnect the equipment.
The Mares Sea Pals child’s snorkel set is available from small to large. The set is user-friendly because it’s quite easy to wear and use, even for kiddos!
#2 CRESSI ROCKS JUNIOR
Best for three to eight-year-olds, the Cressi Rocks Junior gear set includes a mask, dry snorkel, adjustable fins, and net bag.
Cressi, as an Italian brand pioneer in snorkeling, swimming, and diving, has been well-known for decades in the industry as one of the best snorkeling gear brands.
This kids’ snorkel kit is designed to be used throughout the day in any body of water.
The twin-lens mask is adjustable, and its double-feathered junior face skirt is designed to fit smaller faces. The fins also have easy-adjust buckles, making the Cressi kids’ snorkel set adaptive to children’s physical development—great for long-term use!
The dry snorkel completely seals off all water and is attachable using the included quick-release snorkel keeper clip. A splash guard and a one-way bottom purge valve are also included in the Cressi snorkeling gear set.
According to kids’ snorkel set reviews, the Cressi Rocks Junior children’s snorkeling equipment is quite sturdy and comfortable to wear—making it a great candidate as the best snorkel set for kids!
#3 US DIVERS DORADO II
The US Divers youth snorkel set includes a junior mask, proflex snorkel fins for kids, and a Seabreeze DX snorkel.
The polycarbonate double-lens mask is shatter-resistant, anti-fog, and double-feathered for a better fit and less likelihood of leakage. A three-way buckle system makes the snorkeling gear US divers so that the mask is even more secured and well-fitted.
The US Divers kids’ snorkel set has a splash guard top with hydro-adhesion technology, and the mouthpiece and tube are ergonomically shaped to allow day-term use with little to no discomfort!
Of course, the best youth snorkel gear wouldn’t miss the one-way purge valve, which expels any water that may enter the mouthpiece to prevent breathing issues.
US Divers goes a little extra as a kids’ snorkel set with fins by having vented fin blades to increase swimming efficiency and reduce fatigue.
Having made it to being known as one of the best children’s snorkel sets, the US divers snorkel set kids kit fits wearers ages six and up and manages to show off a cool, stylish aesthetic.
Kids’ snorkel vest, wetsuit and swimwear
If your kid isn’t a good swimmer yet, it’s best to use a snorkel vest as a handy flotation device to give them more confidence in snorkeling, and it will also help when exhaustion kicks in.
In addition, a wetsuit can help with preventing discomfort for those with sensitivity to the cold.
As for trips to areas with sunny weather, you can’t do without UV protected (UPF 50+) swimwear as children’s skin is more susceptible to sunburns.
You can’t go wrong with investing a little extra in these items as part of the best snorkel gear for kids!
#1 STEARNS ORIGINAL PUDDLE JUMPER KIDS LIFE JACKET
The Stearns Life Jacket is usable as a snorkel vest for children weighing 30 to 50 pounds.
In terms of design safety, it has a durable nylon shell and is US Coast Guard-approved, which practically guarantees that it’ll do the job of keeping your kids afloat!
The Type V life jacket comes in one size and a variety of cute, playful designs.
The jacket also has an adjustable buckle at the back to securely fit your child, and it’s designed so that they can’t take it off on their own.
Reviews have noted that it’s great for toddlers, but caution should never be left behind with anything involving children and a large body of water. Kids are at ease in the water while wearing it, which is also good for building confidence in swimming.
#2 Realon Kids Wetsuit UPF50+
REALON Kids is a full, long-sleeved thermal swimsuit made from two or three-millimeter neoprene for insulation against the cold, protection against sunburns, and reduction of water resistance when swimming.
Multiple sizes are available, from extra small to triple XL, and it comes in many colors to suit your personal taste!
The sizes can accommodate children from two to fifteen-year-olds. It’s paramount that you get a snug fit for your kid to keep water out; a loose fit will defeat the purpose because cold water is more likely to get to your kid’s sensitive skin.
The stretchable, elastic material and breathable material made from 90% neoprene and 10% nylon allow children to move freely.
The wetsuit is not exclusive to snorkeling and can also be used for a lot of other (under)water activities such as swimming, surfing, diving, and other water sports (as always, with parental supervision).
#3 YOBER BABY BOYS KIDS SWIMWEAR UPF50+
The Yober Baby Boys Kids Swimsuit is perfect for babies and toddlers as their size variants are designed for kids age four and below.
You can get the swimsuit in only two designs, namely Navy or Shark, which are both pretty darn cute! Just make sure to get the right sizing as the designer is pretty thorough with it—seven sizes are available for kids within the said age range of baby to 4 years old.
The swimsuit offers UPF 50+ sun protection and is soft and quick-drying. The childrens snorkel gear is also suitable for other aquatic endeavors, and as an added bonus, it comes with a free sun hat! Parents have noted that the swimsuit boasts good quality and comfort for their kids.
Information guide
What is snorkeling gear for kids?
Snorkeling gear includes any equipment used for snorkeling.
The essential kit consists of the snorkel mask and the snorkel (tube) itself, and other additional gears including wetsuits, childrens flippers or fins, floaties or rafts, snorkel vests, and waterproof carry bags.
The mask and snorkel are all your kid really needs to go snorkeling.
However, if they aren’t a strong swimmer or are trying out snorkeling for the first time, it might be best to invest in additional gear such as flotation devices (aside from keeping an eye on them at all times). Better yet, consider trying out a kids snorkel set as it includes both essential and supplementary gear, giving you more value for your money and also ensuring compatibility both in design and utility!
Why do I need to buy kids’ snorkel gear?
Kids as young as three years old can engage in snorkeling, but it speaks for itself that they’ll need a children’s snorkel set, which is more fitting for their size. Adult snorkeling equipment is inappropriate since they do not correctly fit most children and will likely result in discomfort and safety hazards due to leaking.
The same goes for fins, flippers, swimwear, and snorkel vests that are smaller and lighter for their build.
As with any snorkeling set for kids, various sizes are available if you’re looking for gear that’s more suitable for either toddlers or larger kids.
The most well-known snorkel gear and kids’ snorkel sets are made with professional-grade materials and design. We’re confident that our kids use equipment that ensures a fun and hassle-free experience and adheres to safety standards.
Compared to the traditional goggles and snorkel, which are separate, a kids’ snorkel set typically includes a snorkel mask with an attachable snorkel for easier handling and usage with less jaw fatigue.
Getting the best kids’ snorkel gear is a crucial decision. We want our kids to make the most out of their underwater exploration, and low-quality equipment shouldn’t ruin the experience.
Sometimes, having kids snorkels might not be enough. If your kiddo can’t swim yet, they might need a snorkel vest or perhaps inflatable armbands, also called “floaties.” Other times, you might want to get them a wetsuit if they’re sensitive to cold weather or get flippers or fins to help kids snorkel with less effort.
How do I find the best snorkeling gear for kids?
Safety
The best kids snorkel set for kids always prioritizes breathing safety and efficiency above all others. We can’t compromise our little ones’ safety as long as they’re in the water!
Design
The design of kids snorkel masks and snorkels should consider ergonomics and practicality when it comes to usage, and the mask should be leakproof and well-fitted, meaning virtually no water should be able to enter it to ensure comfort and safety.
If it’s a full-face snorkel mask, you might be worried about carbon dioxide build-up within the mask, but it’s generally a good measure to simply check the product design and make sure that the breathing system is working well to prevent this from happening.
Clarity
Next comes visual clarity. Most great masks have anti-fog film or coating on the glass panel. This prevents the user’s breath from fogging up the mask and impeding vision.
A single-lens mask offers a panoramic (180°) view, while a double-lens mask still allows a good degree of visibility but may be more comfortable for your kid to wear considering the longer nose pocket.
Durability
Durability should also be considered, especially if you’re planning to use the kids snorkeling gear more than once a year. Aside from the snorkel mask and tube, the quality and strength of the material are especially important for flippers or fins, armbands, and wetsuits.
Long-term usability means less spending and less hassle in getting new equipment, and a more durable set also ensures safety since the gear is less likely to break while in use.
Comfort
Lastly, don’t forget that your little ones should have comfort and ease in wearing the gear!
You can do this by having them try the gear out and ensuring that it’s just the right fit before going on an underwater trip.
Getting the right size prevents a lot of common problems such as a leaking mask and discomfort in using the childrens snorkels mouthpiece.
Snorkels for kids and toddlers usually have a smaller mouthpiece so that it won’t hurt in their mouth even after prolonged use.
Other aspects such as the style and aesthetic design are a matter of taste or preference.
Which snorkel gear should I get?
Aside from the standard mask and snorkel, you can consider getting additional gear such as UV protection swimwear or wetsuits to shield your children against both sunburns and skin sensitivity to cold weather.
Flippers or fins help with swimming more efficiently, while floaties, rafts, and snorkel vests are a must for children who can’t swim yet or need support to float properly.
If you’re planning to take a trip to see the reef, consider using eco-friendly and reef-safe sunscreen to protect not only your little one but also the corals!
Waterproof carry bags also come in snorkel sets as a bonus.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, this guide helped you pick the best snorkeling gear for kids. Now, there’s only one more thing to do. Get in the water and start exploring!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Babs Rodrigus is the co-founder and main writer of Mums on FlipFlops . She is absolutely crazy about traveling – especially together with her wife and kids. Babs loves animals, chocolate (what did you expect from a Belgian?), reading, and writing.
